Michael is so right. Those dabs of paint and scraps of cloth we turn into paintings do take on a great deal of meaning for many families, especially the posthumous portraits.
It wasn't my first commission but the 9/11 firefighter portrait I did was the most emotionally challenging and emotionally rewarding one I ever did.
After the family had the painting home for a while the widow told me that having it there was the first thing that truly comforted her in the whole time since September 11th happened. If I accomplish nothing else in this career, that thought will always stay with me.
|